Refrigerator



N. T. WILCOX July 9, 1929.

REFRIGERATOR Filed March l7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheety. 1929. N. T. WILCOX 1.720.310

' REFRIGERATOR Filed March 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jv06vz7521- Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES nonmnn'r. wILcox, or xEoKUK, IOWA.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed March 17,1926. Serial No.95,253.

This invention relates to refrigerating ma chines of the domestic types such as are used in households, ice cream cabinets, water coolers, and the like, and also to machines of the smaller commercial sizes.

A serious objection to most machines of this general character is the fact that when repairs are required they must be made by an expert service man. This often means delay, it increases the expense of such repairs, and itadds very materially to the cost of running a machine of this type. This fact also is a serious obstacle to the introduction of. such machines in the less thickly settled communities.

The present invention deals with this problem, and it aims to improve refrigerating machines of the general type above mentioned with a view to increasing their re liability, simplifying the operation of servicing, and reducing the necessity for, and the expense of, making repairs. Stated some what more specifically, the invention aims to devise a machine in which the parts which are most likely torequire inspection, repair or servicing can be readily removed and ordinary repairs made by any mechanic, thus dispensing with the necessity for the services of an expert.

it is a further object of the invention to devise a refrigerating machineof the type mentioned which, while being unusually durable, can still be manufactured economically. 1 y

The invention will ,beherein disclosed as embodied in a refrigerating machine of the expansion type. In such a ,machine ,the most common sources of troubleare with the compressor or pump and with the leak age of the gaseous refrigerant from the ap paratus. Accordingly, especially important features of this invention reside in the mounting of the compressolyin" such a man ner that it can beeasi'ly removed, repaired and replaced, in means for afiording an ample supply of lubricant to the compressor so that wear will bereduced, and in the provision made for preventing leakage of gas from the compressor. i

The nature of the invention willbe readily understood from the followingdescrip tion when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. a i i y In the drawings, i i V Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectiona]. View: of a domestic refrigerator construct ed in accordance with this invention 5. Fig. 2 is a-vertical cross-sectional view of -thecompressor and adjacent parts;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the container in which the, compressor is mounted and shows, in crosssection, the apparatus for feeding lubricating oil to the compressor; and .1

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the compressor at right angles to Fig.4.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a.,refrigerator box or casing is indicated at 2, thisicasing having an upper compartment designed for the storage of; food or other materialto be cooled, and a lower compartment 41in which the greater part of the; operating mechanism islocated, As above stated, the machine illustrated is of the expansion type, and it comprises a pump oncompressor.5, (see Figure 2), which .is located inacontainer or easing 6 adapted to hold a body of oil with the compressor immersed therein. The compressor pumps the. refrigerant through an exhaust. pipe 7, Fig. 1, iinto a gas rece 'itacle or storage tank 8, any suitable refrigerant being used such, for eXample,-,a. s sulphur dioxide, methyl chloride, or the like. From the gas receptacle or tank 8 thecorn: pressed gas flows through a condensing or cooling coil 9 which is cooled by, a fan 10, .or in any other convenient manner, and thence-is conducted by a pipe 12 to a pressure reducing valve 13 which discharges into a header 141:. The gas flows from this head,- er into and through an expansioncoililti to a lower header 16 from which'itis conducted by a pipe 1 7 backto the intake end of the pump or compressor 5. Anelectric motor 18 drives thecompressor fi and .fan 10, this motor being automatically controlled by any suitable thermostatic apparatus. The control unitshown is of a well known type and consists of a thermostat 20 located in the upper chamber 3 and a switchf 21 which is operated by the thermostat and is adapted to turn the current on; orofi' the motor 18; The operation of the system is, in general, the same as thatof anyrefrig crating machine of the expansion type,

Referringmore particularlyto Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed ,thatithe containeryG inwhich the compressor ,5 is mounted is pro 13 shown in Fig. 2. Consequently, any

vided With an opening 22 in one side thereof, this openingbeing closed by a cover or closure 23 whichis bolted to the casing. The compressor is mounted directly on, and is supported by, this cover or closure 23. In the construction shown'the closure plate 23 is provided with an internal boss 24 which is screw threaded interiorly to receive an exte'r-nally threaded hub or projection extending from the end piece 25 of the compressor 5. The driving shaft 26 of the compressor projects horizontally through the cover 23, and the portion ofthe cover adjacent to the shaft is spaced from the compressor, as cleargas leaking out of the compressor'alongthe shaft 26" will escape intothe body of oil in the container 6 andwill flow upwardly through this body'of oiland through holes 27 formed through the boss 24 into the upper part of I the container. Two pipes 2828 connect the container6 withthe gas receptacle 8 so that the escaping gas will find its Way through one or the other of these pipe connections into thegas receptacle. I v Asa further means of preventing the leakage of'gas along the shaft 26 and out of the container 6, one or more stufiing boxes orpackings are associated with the shaft immediately outside the container. In the con- 1 struction' shown two packing boxes are prov'ided,= on'e, indicated at 30, being adapted to contain heavy'lubricant, and the other, shownat; 31 containing a mechanical packingof' any suitable character. The part consists of afcup-shaped member threaded onaboss provided on the outer side of the cover 23 and adapted to hold heavy oil,

(grease, or other lubricant which is permitted to find its way to the'shaft through ducts 321 A disk33 may also be secured tightly on the'shaft 26 to revolve in the grease and act as a further barrienagainst the passage ofanygas'tending to follow along the shaft. Usually, however, the part '33 is not required; These packings 30 and 31 also preyent the leakage of oil from the container 6. It wil'l'be observed that tlie opening 22 inthec'o'ntainer 6 is large enough to permit the introductionor removal of thecompressor 51 therethroughi In order to facilitate the inspection or repair of thecompressor,

.- the container] 6 and the gas receptacle 8 are conne'cted 'With the other units of the system by unions and couplings in such a Y way -that these parts can readily be disconnected from the machine and removed, as a un1t',from the refrigerator. For this pur- -pose the shaft 26 is connected't-o the shaft of 'the motor 18 bya coupling 35, Fig. 1, and-unions 36 and 37 are connectedinto the pipes 17 and 9, respectively. A shut-off valve 38 is connected' 'in the pipe 17 just above the union 36 and additional shut-off valves 39 and 40 are connected into the pipe 9 at opposite sides of the union 37. Consequently, in order to remove the parts 6 and 8 it is simply necessary to close the valves 38, 39 and 40, disconnect the unions 36 and 37, and the coupling 35, remove the bolts which secure the receptacle 6 in place, and the parts 6 and 8 may then be removed together from the machine.

If it is now desired to remove the compressor from the container 6, the valves 42'42 in the pipes 38-38 are closed, the valve 43 in the pipe 7 is closed, and the union {14 in the latter pipe is disconmctcd. The shut-offs or valves just mentioned hold the gas confined in the receptacle or tank 8 so that the container 6 may then he turned. up on end with the cover plate or closure 23 uppermost. This cover plate may now he removed and when it is lifted off, the com-- press or 5 will be lifted out of the container 8 with it. 'The compressor may be repaired and replaced in the container 6 and this container, together with the receptacle 8, may then be returned to their usual location in the machine and connected to the l such as that shown in the drawings. The

pump or compressor illustrated is the well known Kinney pump and requires no dctailecl explanation. In Fig. 4 the inlet port of this pump is indicated at 45, the outlet port at 46,- and the pressure or exhaust chamber at 47. The intake pipe 17 opens into the chamber 45, and the outlet or exhaust pipe 7 communicates with the chamber 47.

i In order to afford an ample supply o l lubricating oil to the compressor, and still prevent the compressor from being flooded with oil when it stops so that the starting load will be greatly increased, I prefer to feed lubricating oil into the intake pipe 17 and to automatically control the feeding of lubricantto the compressor. For this purpose. I have. provided the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, which comprises a small casing secured rigidly on the cover plate 23 and communicating with the body of oil in the container 6 by means of a pipe or tube 51. When thecompressor is in operation the oil in the'ycontainer, 6 obviously will be under pressure, and consequently, will be forced through, the tube 51 into the casing 50. This oil can flow out of the casing through a port 52 in the bottom thereof and thence through a tube 53 into the intake pipe 17 leading to the compressor. The flow of oil through the port 52 is controlled, however, by a plunger or needle valve 54, as may be required, this plunger or needle valve being connect-ed with an armature 55which is arranged to he lifted by two electro-magnets 56 connccfcd llll) either in series or parallel with the motor 18. A red 57 is secured to the plunger 54:, and a spring 58 acts on the upper end of this red in a direction tending to hold the plunger off its seat and thus assists the mag nets 56 in overcoming the pressure exerted on the plunger. The range of the opening movement of the plunger is limited by a stop 59 and the tension of the spring 58 may be adjusted by an adjusting screw 60 which is threaded through the top of the casing 50.

With this arrangement no feeding of lubricating oil to the compressor occurs so long as the compressor is not in operation. As soon as current is turned on to the motor 18, however, the electro-magnets will then be energizedand will lift theplunger or needle valve 54 from its seat and permit a limited quantity of oil to flow through the casing 50 and into the compressor. This oil is discharged with the refrigerant into the gas receptacle or tank 8 where it automatically separates from the refrigerant.

The body of oil in which the compressor is submerged is useful both in preventing the leakage of gaseous refrigerant from the container 6, as above described, and also in transmitting heat from the compressor to the walls of the casing where it is dispersed by the current of air created by the fan 10. This air current preferably is directed against the condensing coil 9, but since the fan is located, close to the container 6 it also creates a considerable flow of air around this container.

It will now be appreciated that this invention provides simple organization which is completely automatic in its operation, canbe manufactured economically, in which gas leakage is effectually prevented, and in which repairs, when necessary, can be made very easily. As a rule the compressor or pump is the unit most likely to get out of order, and in the construction shown the pump can be very easily replaced by any one having ordinary mechanical skill.

lVhile I have herein shown and described a convenient embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that this disclosure has been made rather by way of illustration than limitation and that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in a considerable variety of forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. In fact, the arrangement of the parts and the organization of the apparatus will depend to a considerable extent upon the use for which the machine is intended. I do not desire to be limited, therefore, to the construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

r 1. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil bination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of.

oil in contact with the compressor, a driving shaft for said compressor projecting through the wall of said container, said compressor being spaced from said wall to cause gas leaking from said compressor along said shaft to escape into said oil and to flow through the oil away from the shaft, and a stuffing box through. which said shaft passes, said stufling box being associated with said wall and adapted to contain a heavy lubricant to seal the shaft.

3. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the compressor, a gas re ceptacle located above and connnunicatiug with said container, means for shutting'off communication between said receptacle and said container, and connections between said receptacle, container, and other parts of the refrigerating system for permitting the removal. of the container and receptacle from said refrigerator as a unit. i 4. In refrigerating machine, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the compressor, a gas receptacle located above and communicating with said container, means for shutting ol'l' communication between said container and said receptacle, said container having an opening at one side thereof through which said compressor maybe inserted or removed, a cover for said opening, a substantially horizontal driving shaft for said compressor projecting through said. cover, said cover and compressor being separated from each other in the neighborhood of said shaft to provide a space in free communication with the oil space in said container, means cooperating with said cover to prevent the leakage of oil or gas therethrough around the shaft, and connections for removably securing said shaft, receptacle, and container in their operative relationship to the other parts of the refrigerating system, whereby said receptacle and container may be removed from the machine as a unit.

5. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold body of oil in contact with the compressor, a gas receptacle located above and communicating with said container, means for shutting off communication between said container and said receptacle, said container having an opening at one side thereof through which said compressor may be inserted or removed, a cover for said opening, a substantially horizontal driving shaft for said compressor projecting through said cover, means cooperating with said cover to prevent the leakage of oil or gas therethrough around the shaft, pipe connections leading through said cover to and from said compressor, said compressor being mounted on said cover and connections for removably securing said shaft, containerand receptacle in their operative relationship to other parts of the refrigerating system and permitting the removal of said container and receptacle as a unit from the system.

6. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compressor, a container in .which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the compressor, means for conducting oil from said body to the interior of the compressor to lubricate it, and means for automatically preventing the flow of oil to the compressor when the compressor is a not in operation.

7. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the compressor, means for feeding oil from said body to said compressor, and electrical means for automatically controlling said feeding of the oil.

8. In a refrigerating machine, the combination'of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the compressor, means for feedingoil. from said body to the interior of said compressor to lubricate it, and means for starting and stopping thefeeding of the oil substantially with the starting and stopping of the compressor.

9. In a refrigerating machine, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the compressor, means for feeding oil from said body to the intake of said compressor to lubricate the compressor, and electro-magnetic means for automati cally controlling the feeding of the oil in accordance with the operation of the compressor.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the coinpressor and having an opening therein through which said compressor may be inserted or removed, a closure for said open ing, a driving shaft for said compressor projecting through said closure and in contact with the oil in said container, and a stulling box associated with said closure and containing a heavy lubricant to seal said shaft.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a compressor, a container in which said compressor is mounted, said container being adapted to hold a body of oil in contact with the compressor and having an opening therein through which said compressor may be inserted or removed, a closure for said opening, a substantially horizontal driving shaft for said compressor projecting through said closure, said compressor and closure being spaced from each other in the neighborhood of said shaft, whereby the shaft passes through a body of oil in free communicathm with the main body of oil in said container, and means for preventing oil or "as from I a s b u leaking out of said container around said shaft.

NORMAN T. WILCOX. 

